Filing cabinet, lock, and tray



Sept. 12, 1933. s. B. FREIBERG FILING CABINET,

-LOCK, AND TRAY Filed Feb. 25, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 12, 1933. 5 B FRE1BERG 1,926,897

FILING CABINET, LOGIK, AND TRAY S. B. FREIBERG FILING CABINET, LOCK, AND TRAY Sept. 12, 1933.

Filed Feb. 25, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 p 1933. s. B FREIBERG 1,926,897

FILING CABINET, LOCK, AND TRAY Filed Feb. 25, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a filing device.

An object of the invention is 130 provide an improved filing cabinet and means for locking trays therein.

Another object is to provide a 1ock for flling cabinets which is simple, positive and Capable 01 being actuated by a Single operation.

Another object is to provide such a lock means which can be used equally we1i in cabinets containing few or many trays, and which is equally eflective with trays or drawers of varying sizes and depths.

Another object is to provide such a locking device which can be controlled by standard types of lock and key.

Another object is to provide an improved means for supporting shelves within a cabinet.

These objects are attained by the means described herein and set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet 015 the present invention with the lock and shelfsupport means installed therein, parts being broken away.

' Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the cabinet and lock means, parts being broken away.

Fig'. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on 1ine 44 of Fig. 2,

0 parts being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of elements of the 1ock means.

Fig. 6 is an isometric detail view showing that r e1ement of the lock means by which the trays are er 1gaged by the lock.

Fig. 7 is an isometric view showing the development of a she1f member of this invention.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the shelf mounting.

The filing tray and its guide shown herein are Set forth in detail in my copending application Serial No.'325,589 filed December 12, 1928.

The cabinet structure illustrated in connection with the present invention is of the type sei: forth in my copending application Serial Number 436,-

. 366, filed March 17, 1930.

With reference now to the drawings; the cabinet 12 comprises the side Walls 13 and 14, top 15, the raised bottom 16 and. rear wall 17, the latter and the corners adjacent thereto being suitably strengthened as indicated in Fig. 3. The panels 18, 19 and 20 bordering the front of the cabinet are preferably formed by turning in portions of the sides and top respectively. Portions 21 and 22, which may be integral with panels 18 and 19 respectively, are formed into vertica1 channels 23 and 24, opening to the interior o1 the cabinet. Portions 21 and 22 are cut oft immediately above the raised bottom 16, which extends forwardly 120 abut the inner sides of panels 18 and 19, thus closing the channels 23 and 24 ab the 1ower ends thereof. A base pane1 25 extends between panels 18 and 19 the upper edge of pane1 25 abutting bottom 16 as indicated at 26 (Fig. 1).

The mountings 27, of this invention are individua1 members resembling channel bars and extending longitudinally of the cabinet in abutment with the inner faces of side wal1s 13 and 14. Mountings 27 are preferably formed of metal sheets or blanks 28 which are provided. at each end with the extensions 29, 30 and 31. Blank 28 is bent, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7, so as to provide a shelf member comprising an upper ledge 32, a secondary 1edge 33 and bottom 34. Extensions 29 and 31 are now in spaced alignment and project from ledige 32 and bottom 34 respectively. The shaped extensions 30 are bent inwardly of the mountings, so that the top edges of extensions 30 fa11 immediately beneath the end edges of ledges 32 and 33, and the bottom edge of extensions 30, immediately above the end edge 015 bottom 34.

The shelves 35 are substantially fiat sheets 0f a width s lightly less than the inside width of cabinet 12, and of proper length to permit their insertion between rear wall 17 and the innermost projections of portions 21 and 22. Each she1f 35 is adapted to be supported on each side by one of the mountings 27.

The mountings and shelves are positioned within the cabinet by a building-up process. Initial1y, two of the mountings 27 are oppositely disposed along the walls 13 and 14, the bottoms 34 cf the mountings resting upon the raised bottom 16 of the cabinet, and the open sides of the mountings 27 against the inner faces of walls 13 and 14. In so positioning the mountings, the extensions 29 and 31 are inserted in the limited vertical passages 36 provided by the turned-in portions 21 and 22, whereby lateral movement cf the forward portion of mountings 27, is prevented. A similaQr structure, or other suitable means, may be employed in the rear of the cabinet.

After the first pair of mountings 27 has been thus positioned, a she1f 35 is placed thereon, resting upon the upper ledges 32 01: ehe oppositely disposed mountings. Thereafter, a second pair of mountings is operatively disposed upon the positioned shelf, and a second she1f placed upon the second pair 015 mountings, and in similar 110 fashion until 1;1 1e cabinet is complete. The

turned-in extensions 30 prevent the ledge 32 and bottom 34 from bending inwardly of the mountings27 after pressure is exerted thereon. Moreover, the interfitting relation o1 ledges 32 and 33 with extension 30 prohibits any outwa.rd bending or sagging of front Wall 37 of i;he mountings 27.

A this point it may be generally explained tha1'; the tray 38 is slidabbr he1d by the guide 39, anc1 that guide 39 has a 1imited sliding movement on a shelf 35. Guide 39 has lugs extending outwardly therefrom. These lugs move upon the ledges 33 of the mountings 27, and concact the portions 21 and 22 01' the cabinet thus limiting forwardmovement of the guide 39 but permitting projection of the front of the guide from the cabinet in the fully outdrawn position of the trays. Means are likewise provided, upon fu11 inward movement of the trays, for moving the guides inwardly behind ,the fronts of the trays and cabinet to permit operation of the locking means, as will be explained.

The locking means of the present invention may be used on both sides of a cabinet, though its use on one side is generally sufiicient. It is explained herein as used only upon the right hand side of the cabinet. Leck members 40, attached to the sides of tray 38 adjacent the front thereof, are preferably integral extensions of the front end 41 of the tray. Members 40 consist of shaped strips providing the notches 01' inwardlyextending depressions 42. The ends 43 of members 40 are attached to the exterior of.the sides of tray 38. When tray 38 is moved into the cabinet, to its full extent, notches 42 come immediately adjacent and in direct alignment with the channels 23 and 24. Leck rod 44 of the 1ocking mea.ns is a. fiattened rod, or one which is substantially rectangular in cross section. Rod 44 is positioned in channel 23 and is pivotally movable therein on a vertical eccentric axis. 'Ihe off-center pint1e 45 projects from one end of rod 44. The locking cam 46 projects from the other end of rod 44, the pintle 47 of cam 46 being in alignment with pintle 45. The stud 48 of cam 46 has perforation 49 adjacent its end.

Pintle.45 is pivotally received in the bearing 50 which is secured to cabinet 12 directly above channel 23. The perforation 51 in the bottom 16 pivotally receives pint1e 47 but will not permit passage of the main body of rod 44 therethrough. A lock mechanism 52 extends through base panel 25 adjacent the right hand side thereof. 011 the inner face of panel 25 is secured the support bracket 53 through which lock mechanism 52 extends. A plate 54 is secured to the rear of lock barrel 55 and turns as the key turns the barrel, as is common in various barrel and tumbler 1ocks. Adjacent the periphery of plate 54 is a pin 56 pivotally receiving one end of a connecting 1ink 57. A perforation in the opposite end of link 57 pivotally receives the stud 48 of cam 46. A pin 58 passing through perforation 49 prevents separation of stud 48 and 1ink 57. Connecting link 57 is given a 90 degree twist intermediate its ends so thatone face of the 1ink will be vertically disposed to co-operate with pla.te 54, and another face thereof will be horizontally disposed to receive the vertical stud 48.

'Ihe operation of the lock is as follows: after trays 38 have been pushed into the cabinet, lock mechanism 52 is actuated by means of a key. Platze 54 turns and the link 57 pivotally attached thereto, moves with it. Link 57 actuates the ca.m 46 and rod 44 is pivotally actuated thereby, so that the lock rod 44 turns from the position shown in Fig. 3 and in so1id lies in Fig. 4 co the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. Rod 44, being so actuated, moves into notch 42 and abuts the Walls thereof, whereby movement of the trays is prevented until the rod is returned to its former position in channel 23, that is, until the cabinet is unlocked.

After the locking means have been completely installed, the elements positioned beneath the raised bottom 16 may be suitable enclosed for protection against tampering, and possible contac t With other objects.

It is evident that this locking means is adapted Ior use with all sizes of cabinets; that it is equa.lly efiective in 1ocking both trays a,nd drawers, inasmuch as the element 40 can be ea.sily applied 130 both.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a cabinet and trays adapted each for movement within a removable guide in the cabinet, the front of said guide being adapted to be moved outwardly of the front of the cabinet by withdrawal of ehe t1ays, of tray locking means comprising notched members attached 110 each tray and projecting laterally of the front thereof, s. vertically extending channel portion at the front of the cabinet and adapted to register With the notches of said notched members in the enclosed position of the trays, a rod journaled in said channel portion, means operative upon full inward movement of the trays for moving said guides inwardly behind the fronts of the trays and cabinet t0 permit registration 0f seid notches and channel, and means adapted to be operated after such inward movement of the guides'for turning said rod 011 a vertical axis into and out of said notches for locking and unlocking the trays in the cabinet.

2. In combination a. cabinet, a guide in the cabinet, a tray in the guide;the front; of the guide being adapted to be moved outwardly of the cabinet by withdrawal of the tray, tray locking means comprising a. notched member on each tray and projecting laterally of the front thereof, a vertically extending channel portion at the front of the cabinet and adapted 130 register with the notch of said notched member in the enclosed position of the tray, a rod journaled in said channel portion, means operative upon fu1l inward movement of the trayfor moving the guide inwardly behind the fronts of t;he tray and guide 110 permit registration of said notch and channel, and means adapted to be operated after such inward movement of the guide for turning said rod on a vertical eccentric a.xis into and out of said notch for locking and unlocking the tray in the ca.binet.

STANLEY B. FREIBERG. 

